Emerging Leaders Network, Laying Tracks for the Future

The Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) is a collaboration among Northwest Indiana leadership groups, including Emerge South Shore, NWI Leaders Young Professional Group, the Urban League NWI Young Professionals and Young Leaders United.

The group is joining forces to host an event as a call to action for the local funds needed for the South Shore Rail Line expansion to become a reality. Between 1970 and 2012, the population of Lake County fell by 9.6 percent, the median income decreased by 15.3 percent and the median age increased by 43 percent.

These trends are occurring because Northwest Indiana has been unable to retain and attract young people in Northwest Indiana. Young professionals are choosing to live elsewhere, including Chicago and its environs in Illinois.